Today I’m so glad to introduce you to a great blog Enjoying the Journey. This Mom loves sensory play just as much as I do. She puts together some seriously fun stuff for her girls. Check out some of the great sensory play she and her daughters have done.
Sensory play has become an important part of our preschool lessons. Sensory play is not only fun, but also an important part of the learning process. Toddlers and preschoolers both enjoy activities that allow them to use several of their senses.
A wonderful example of one of our favorite sensory activities is chocolate pudding. It not only smells wonderfully yummy, it also smooth and cold to the touch. My two year old will quickly discover the sense of taste as well with this sensory activity.
Here are a few our favorite sensory activities we’ve done
Colored Espon Salt: Used on a light table creates a neat effect when you use your finger to write in it. A great way to practice your letters. The texture of the salt is hard and is fun to pour from one hand to the other. Supply some cups to teach pouring.
Chocolate Pudding: Covers senses smell, taste, touch, and hearing. I’ve mentions most of these above, but you can add hearing too if your kiddo is like mine and loves to make it splat.
Shaving cream: Oh there are so many things you can do with shaving cream. I use the sensitive skin kind to make sure it doesn’t cause any skin irritation. It’s messy, but so much fun to play with. Many times I’ll let my kids play with the bin in the tub. It make for a easy clean up. Pull off the cloths that got messy and spray down the tub.
Goopy Slime: Another favorite is corn starch diluted with water. Letting the kids mix it up is half the fun. The other is letting them go.
Theme sensory bins: Depending on the season you can create sensory bins with items for an upcoming season or subject. It’s a fun way to introduce something you’ll be teaching your kids.
Making Marbled Paper: Here is a 2 in 1 activity. Set up a tub with shaving cream and add several drops of food coloring. Let your kiddos swirl the coloring around. This makes really neat swirled designs. Take some card stock and lay it on the shaving cream. Remove and dry. These turn out really neat.
Water Beads: I can’t say enough good things about water beads. They are fantastic. Even the adults love to play with these. They bounce, squish, and pop. Set up on a light table for even more sensory experience. They look so neat.
Color Sensory Bins: Create a sensory bin with a color theme. As the kiddos are playing withthe items you placed in the bin you can discuss the color. Nice way to introduce a new color to a toddler.
The #1 reason I do sensory bins with my daughters is… you can’t beat the smiles on their faces. Their never happier than when their hands are squishing through something messy.
What great ideas! I will need to try water beads!